The Center for Investigative Reporting Formrly Foundation for National Progress

What it reported doing in 2025

Program service accomplishment #1 Investigative Reporting(continued from Form 990 Page 2)color in a county that is 45 percent non-white. Corruption: During this fiscal year, we devoted significant journalistic resources to exploring how shadowy wealth distorts public policy, most potently in our recent package How Private Equity Looted America. In it, we explored how private equity has become one of the most powerful hidden forces in our economy, touching nearly every sector of our lives, but is barely covered outside the business pages. We set out to change that, rallying the newsroom to produce a formidable online and print package of 15 stories, including in-depth features, first-person accounts, and a video investigating the fleecing of the American economy. The package galvanized activists, led to media appearances, and received an honorable mention from the Association of Business Journalists. Gender Justice and Reproductive Rights: For as long as abortion rights have been at risk, Mother Jones has covered this story deeply. When other newsrooms dismissed the possibility of a post-Roe future, we turned a clear-eyed gaze to the issue and showed how conservatives were stripping away a womans right to choose her own reproductive path. After the Supreme Courts Dobbs decision in 2022, our reporters went to work covering the story from every angle to ensure this crushing blow to reproductive rights did not go unanswered. We delivered haunting dispatches from Southern abortion clinics facing the aftermath of the ruling, which provided a window into the immediate disruptions and despair. We also provided historical context on how the Supreme Court arrived at this moment. Stories on this beat routinely capture the attention of audiences outside our regular followers, bringing new readers to our work. Climate Crisis: Environmental reporting has always been a core concern for Mother Jones, and in fiscal year 2023, our team is turned its gaze to a project we call the Great Decarbonization. We launched the opening salvo in our reporting on this topic with our Electrify Everything package. The reporting strikes straight to the heart of the tendency towards no, calling for a YIMBY movement to help save our planet by building the infrastructure we need: factories, mines, denser housing. Its a manifesto for this moment and an important call to action for both friends and foes.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 77.1%; rating input score 77
• Program expense ratio: 83.9%; rating input score 84
• Fundraising efficiency: $13.41 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 42; 42nd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 92.3%; rating input score 92; 21st percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 8.4%; rating input score 54; 54th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.63; rating input score 16; 16th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.61; rating input score 18; 18th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 10.3%; rating input score 23; 23rd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 3.9% per year; rating input score 100; 32nd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 4.5% per year; rating input score 100; 37th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 16.6% per year; rating input score 100; 86th percentile among comparable filings